How to Tighten Down a Toilet Tank

Tight toilet bolts keep water inside the bowl instead of on the floor.

A tight connection between the tank and bowl of a toilet is essential to keeping water off your floor and keeping the toilet flushing at full strength. Over time, the two bolts that connect the pieces of a toilet together can work loose. This allows the toilet tank gasket to shift and water to leak past the gasket and run freely onto the floor. Besides causing water damage, the leak will lower the level of fluid in the bowl, causing water to run constantly to maintain the level in the bowl.

1

Turn off the water supply to the toilet turning the supply valve clockwise until it stops. Remove the lid from the top of the tank.

2

Push and hold down the flush lever attached to the toilet tank. Release the lever when the tank is empty.

3

Slide the end of a screwdriver into the head of one of the tank mounting bolts located inside the tank. Hold the nut of the same bolt with an adjustable wrench. Turn the screwdriver -- not the wrench -- two full revolutions clockwise. Move to the second tank-mounting bolt and repeat the process. Alternate tightening each mounting bolt until both are pulled tight to the inside of the tank and no longer turn with the screwdriver. Using the wrench to tighten the bolt could crack either the porcelain tank or the porcelain bowl. Dry the area surrounding the connection between the tank and bowl with a dry rag. Place a torpedo level on the front edge of the tank to ensure that it sits level on the toilet bowl. Tighten the mounting bolts carefully, if necessary, until the tank sits level.

4

Turn on the water. Allow the tank to fill. Inspect the bottom of the tank after one hour. The area around the tank and the floor should be dry. Set the lid on the tank if the area is dry. Proceed to the next step if you still notice a water leak.

5

Turn off the water again and drain it from the tank. Hold the head of a mounting bolt steady with the screwdriver while you turn the nut counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench. Pull the bolt from the mounting hole. Remove the second mounting bolt using the same method. Pull the tank from the bowl. Turn the tank upside down.

6

Pull the installed gasket away from the bottom of the tank. Slide a replacement gasket into the opening. Set the tank on the bowl.

7

Slide one bolt through the holes of the tank and through the holes of the toilet bowl. Hold the head of one bolt still with the screwdriver. Push a nylon washer -- included with the replacement gasket -- onto the bottom of the bolt. Thread a nut on the bolt. Partially tighten the bolt. Install the second bolt using the same method. Alternate tightening each bolt until they rest snugly against the tank. Avoid overtightening.

8

Turn on the water and allow the tank to fill. Set the lid on top of the tank.